As expected, that evil old Tobirama is truly despicable.

"You already signed a summoning contract with Katsuyu before, so if you want to learn Sage Mode, you can train with Katsuyu."

"It's just that the process is a bit awkward, but I believe you can handle it."

Mito's eyes flashed with a hint of slyness as she said, "Hashirama also modified Sage Mode back then. I can give you his training notes."

"If you master Sage Mode, there probably won't be many people in the Ninja World who can stand against you."

Even if she herself were gone in the future, Kazuki would have the power to protect himself and Konoha.

Kazuki's current strength has reached the standard Kage level, and if he masters Sage Mode, he might grow to be even stronger than a typical Kage.

Just like Hashirama back then, when Madara still had the Mangekyo Sharingan, their strengths were comparable.

However, after Madara obtained the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, Hashirama happened to learn Sage Mode, which perfectly suppressed Madara's increased strength.

It was from that time onwards that Hashirama completely distanced himself from other Ninja.

It's just that those so-called opponents usually weren't worthy of Hashirama using Sage Mode.

"Sage Mode, you say? I am indeed very interested." Kazuki's face also showed a hint of a smile.

He was just wondering how to continue getting stronger, and Sage Mode is very useful, even effective against Six Paths level opponents.

"Hmm, prepare yourself. Shikkotsu Forest isn't Konoha, there's no food there." Mito then reminded Kazuki.

"Thank you for the reminder."

Kazuki, having received Mito's permission, felt emotional. Becoming Tsunade's disciple back then brought immense benefits.

Indeed, Tsunade wasn't the most suitable teacher for him, and Kazuki becoming Tsunade's disciple even caused a stir within the Uchiha clan, with many "proud" Uchiha expressing dissatisfaction towards Kazuki, believing he had lost his backbone and was unworthy of being an Uchiha.

But in reality?

After becoming Tsunade's disciple, Kazuki had everything. If he hadn't become Tsunade's disciple, could he have obtained the Flying Thunder God Technique?

Even if Kazuki acted like a Konoha fanatic and was Kagami's son, it would have been impossible for him to obtain the Flying Thunder God Technique.

If he didn't become one of the Hokage faction's own, it would have been good enough not to be suppressed.

Moreover, who said Tsunade's combat system wasn't suitable for him?

The Chakra Enhanced Strength was also integrated by Kazuki into his own combat system, and learning Medical Ninjutsu is better than not learning it, it can save lives at critical moments.

Now Kazuki's strength has surpassed Tsunade's, yet he still has Mito instructing him.

To be precise, Mito could be considered his true teacher. She taught him more than Tsunade did.

And Mito is now also considered his protective umbrella.

"Mm."

Mito lovingly waved her hand at Kazuki, signaling that he could leave.

After Kazuki left, a fox-like pupil flashed in Mito's eyes. Mito frowned slightly, and quickly suppressed this anomaly.

Mito stroked her abdomen, muttering softly, "Nine-Tails, settle down!"

Evidently, as Mito aged, the Nine-Tails began to become restless, and she needed to expend more effort to suppress the Nine-Tails.

...

Kazuki returned to the main hall and, in front of everyone else, summoned Katsuyu.

"Kazuki, is there something you need to summon me for?" Katsuyu asked Kazuki in a soft, gentle voice.

Aside from Kazuki, only Kushina had signed a contract with Katsuyu.

As for Nawaki, he planned to sign a contract with Ryūchi Cave. If his strength wasn't insufficient, fearing he would be looked down upon and retaliated against by the snakes, he would have signed the contract long ago.

"Katsuyu, I want to learn Sage Mode." Kazuki stated his request.

"Sage Mode?"

Katsuyu sensed Kazuki's Chakra volume and said, "Oh, your Chakra volume is actually this large?"

"It already meets the requirements for learning Sage Mode, and you can try learning it, but I must warn you, it is very dangerous."

"Very dangerous?" Kushina quickly asked.

In Kushina's opinion, Kazuki was already strong enough and didn't need to risk learning Sage Mode.

Could it be that if he couldn't master the so-called Sage Mode, Kazuki's strength wouldn't be able to improve?

Katsuyu patiently explained, "Natural Energy is very volatile and difficult to control."

"Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest all have their respective Sage Mode."

"If one fails to learn Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode, they will undergo petrification and eventually turn into a stone toad."

"If one fails at Ryūchi Cave, they will turn into a stone snake, though usually, they are devoured by those large snakes before failing completely."

"What? Then if Kazuki fails, will he turn into a stone slug?" Kushina looked at Kazuki with a tense face.

At this, not only Kushina, but also Mikoto, Nawaki, and Rinka all turned their gaze towards Kazuki.

"I think, Katsuyu should have a way to help me solve the problem of Natural Energy going out of control, right?" Kazuki had no doubt that he could learn Sage Mode.

He was currently regressing towards the Otsutsuki clan. He only worried that Katsuyu and the others might be wary of his growth and try to harm him, but he wasn't worried about being unable to control Sage Mode.

Fortunately, it seemed that Katsuyu and the others hadn't discovered his secret yet.

"Yes, it's possible. I can help you absorb the Natural Energy from your body, but it will also draw out a portion of your blood in the process. Even my main body would find it difficult to perfectly separate Natural Energy and blood."

"To be precise, I will let the Natural Energy in your body enter that part of your blood, and then absorb both the blood and the Natural Energy along with it."

Katsuyu seemed worried about Kazuki misunderstanding and continued to explain, "Hashirama also learned Sage Mode this way back then."

"Is that so?"

Kazuki thought of the situations at Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave, and then thought of Hashirama. He felt that Hashirama's Sage Mode seemed better.